Ben Tricker
FREEPORT - Ben Tricker, born April 5, 1926, died surrounded by family in his home, following a short illness, on Dec. 31, 2004.
He was born to Claude and Doris (Crosby) Tricker in Dodgeville, Wis.
Mr. Tricker served in the armed forces, Marine Corps, Army and Navy, and was a World War II and Korean Conflict veteran. He was awarded many medals, but the most important to him were the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star, and the European Theater with two battle stars (Rhineland and Central Europe).
He was married to Cecilia Stephenson on Aug. 27, 1953, and had nine children.
Mr. Tricker was a journeyman electrician for National Lock in Rockford from 1956-68,
Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., 1968-78; and finally retired from Dean Foods, Pecatonica, where he worked from 1978-88.
In addition to his wife, (Cecilia) Ann Tricker, he is survived by nine children, Pam Trudeau of Forest Lake, Minn., Joe Tricker of Hermiston, Ore., Lois Moore of South Elgin, Patty Thieben of Freeport, Barb Kinison of Pecatonica, Gail Johnson of Moor Park, Calif., Diane Thruman of Mazomanie, Wis., Carol Bennett of Rockford and Andrew Tricker of Hermiston, Ore; 24 grandchildren and 18 great- grandchildren; four siblings, Lois Wilson of Safety Harbor, Fla., Jean Knutson of Winterhaven Fla., Wayne Tricker of Lake Villa, and Ruth Gustafson of Fairbanks, Alaska.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents.
There will be no visitation. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Robert Weissmiller
MOUNT CARROLL - Robert W. Weissmiller, 86, of Mount Carroll, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004.
Robert was born Oct. 21, 1918, to Ralph R. and Janet L. (Ramey) Weissmiller, in Kansas City, Mo.
He graduated from Bowen High School in Chicago in 1936, and then attended DePauw University in Green Castle, Ind., where he received his B.A. in economics in 1940. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
He began law school at Northwestern University in Evanston in the fall of 1940, but his education there was interrupted by World War II. In July of 1942, he entered the United States Army, where he served in the China-Burma-India Theater from 1943-46. He was discharged with the rank of captain.
He returned to law school and received his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University in the spring of 1947. He practiced law in Mount Carroll from 1947 until his retirement in 1997.
He was the Mount Carroll city attorney from 1950-52. He served as the Carroll County State's Attorney from 1952-56.
On Aug. 16, 1952, Robert married Mary Jane Berkstresser in Mount Carroll.
Robert was a member of the Mount Carroll Public School Board from 1960-66. He was on the Mount Carroll Library Board. From 1955-75 he served on the Board of Trustees for Shimer College. From 1963-69 he was a member of the State of Illinois Board of Public Aid Commissioners. He was instrumental in the founding of Timber Lake Playhouse in 1962, and served on the Board of Directors.
Robert was known in the community for his wry humor and broad interests. He was an active, but not avid, etymologist. Omnivorous reading and travel were his passions.
Robert is survived by his son, David Weissmiller, of Mount Carroll; two daughters Jan (John Dilg) of Iowa City, Iowa; Lynn (Felix Wohrstein) of Chicago; his grandson, Jeremy (Melissa), of Crestline, Calif., and his two great-granddaughters, Caitlyn and Ciera.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane, in 1996; and one son, James, in 1981.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at Campbell Center in Mount Carroll.
There will be a private family interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Campbell Center or Shimer College.
Arrangements are being handled by the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll.

Thomas W. Bruun
SCALES MOUND - Thomas Willis Bruun, 64, of rural Scales Mound, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center in Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Furlong Funeral chapel, Galena, with burial in the Council Hill Cemetery.
Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Hazel D. Blair
LANARK - Hazel Darlene Blair, 82, of Lanark, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. She will be deeply missed by her family.
She was born Dec. 26, 1922, near Lanark, the daughter of Elmer and Lillian (Kriesel) Bowers. In 1940, she graduated from Lanark High School. On June 5, 1940, Hazel and Donald W. Blair were married in Clinton, Iowa. Mr. Blair died Jan. 9, 1993.
Hazel and Don operated Don Blair Produce for 27 years. She then worked as a payroll clerk and supervisor at Rolling Hills Progress Center in Lanark until her retirement in 1997.
Her memberships included First Brethren Church of Lanark and Eastern Star.
She loved traveling and spending winters in Texas.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Constance and Duane Port of Lanark; four granddaughters, Shelley Russell and Kelley (Mark) Marti of Freeport and Darcey (Michael) Shuman and Alisha Metz of Lanark; four great-grandchildren, Devin, Taylor, Tyler and MacKenzie; and one brother, Merrill Bowers of Lanark.
Preceding her in death were her husband, parents, three sisters and two brothers.
Private services will be held. Burial will be at Lanark Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark.
A memorial fund has been established in her memory.

Kathryn K. Brandt
PALOS PARK - Kathryn Korf Brandt of Palos Park, formerly of Freeport, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, at Lemont Center in Lemont.
Born Jan. 19, 1918, in Freeport, she was the daughter of George Franklin and Florence Dorman Korf. She graduated from Freeport High School in 1935 and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin School of Business in 1939.
Kathryn was an interior designer with Marc T. Nielsen Interiors in Chicago for more than 15 years.
She was the beloved wife of Lyle D. Brandt; devoted mother of Thompson A. (Dagny) Brandt and Nancy S. Brandt; loving grandmother of Kristin K. and Carsten Dorman Korf Brandt; fond sister of Mary Korf (John) Markov; and fond aunt of many nieces and nephews.
Kathryn will be remembered for touching so many lives and was disinclined to accept recognition in return.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, 12312 S. 88th Ave., Palos Park, IL 60464. Internment will be private.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Schmaedeke Funeral Home, 10701 S. Harlem Ave., in Worth.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Palos Park Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society, 17060 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477.

Lawrence E. Damon
DURAND - Lawrence E. Damon, 63, of Durand died at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, in his own home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born July 3, 1941, in Rockford, he was the son of Dale and Mildred (Green) Damon. He was a lifelong resident of Durand. Lawrence married Mary Suzzanne Waller in Rockford on Aug. 26, 1961.
Mr. Damon was self-employed in the grain industry, a partner of the Durand Bowling Alley Facility for years and a stationary engineer for more than 30 years at Singer Mental Health.
His memberships included Durand United Methodist Church, Durand Athletic Association, Voyager Village Country Club, Durand-Lake Summerset Area Golf Association and Big McKenzie Lake Association.
He coached Little League baseball, was a timekeeper at basketball games in Durand, was an avid golfer, loved spending time at the cabin and spending time with his grandchildren.
Lawrence graduated from Durand High School, with the Class of 1959, where he played on the basketball team that won the 1958-59 district championship.
Survivors include his wife, Sue; sons, William (Sandra) Damon and Michael (Amy) Damon; daughters, Cindy (Rowdy) Adams and Jennifer (Erik) Roessler, all of Durand; grandchildren, Jaclyn and Jenna, Ahlea, Logan and Noah, Kyle and McKenzie and Gabriel; siblings, Dennis (Linda) Damon of South Beloit and Mark (Garnet) Damon of Durand; father, Dale (Marge) Damon of Lake Summerset; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Cancer Care Center and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for the loving care and compassion provided to Larry.
Funeral ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Durand United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Decker, pastor of Durand United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Laona Township Cemetery in Durand.
Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at McCorkle Funeral Home, 101 Main St., Durand.
A memorial fund has been established.

Marjorie J. Engle
SARASOTA, Fla. - Marjorie J. Engle, 87, of Sarasota, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004, in Sarasota.
She was born Jan. 19, 1917, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., the daughter of Edward W. and Harriet (Schroeder) Kroll. Marjorie lived most of her life in Freeport, where she married Jack Engle. Mr. Engle died in 1987, and Marjorie moved to Sun City Center, Fla., in 1997, and then to Sarasota in 2002.
Mrs. Engle retired as a real estate broker and partner with her late husband, Jack, in the firm of Engle Realtors in Freeport. She was a member of the Board of Realtors, PEO Sisterhood, the Elks Club, and Embury United Methodist Church, all in Freeport.
Survivors include sons, Jerold of Sarasota, Stephen of Weaverville, N.C., and Donald of Ringgold, Ga.; a sister, Dorothy Bender of Sun City Center; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.

Theresa A. Hille
FREEPORT - Theresa A. "Tracy" Hille, 45, of Freeport died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at her home after a long illness.
Born Sept. 14, 1959, in Clinton, Wis., she was the daughter of Clarence and Marion (Nielson) Below. She married Dennis M. Hille on Aug. 19, 1978, in Freeport.
A Licensed Practical Nurse, she worked for Freeport Manor Nursing Home in Freeport and then Fair Oaks Nursing Home in South Beloit.
Surviving are her husband, Dennis; son, Jeremy (Carrie) Hille; daughter, Jessica Hille; grandchildren, Kylee and Austin Hille, all of Freeport; two sisters, Roseann (Phil) Paone of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Mary Jo (William) Crain of Huntsville, Ala.; two brothers, Robert (Susan) Ross of Mantino and Michael (Carol) Ross of Las Vegas, Nev.; several nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs, Captain Morgan and Speckles.
She was preceded in death by her parents; guardian parents, John and Martha Ross; and her son, Bradley Hille.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at St. John United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Wallace Reifsteck officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.

Greta G. Melickian
FREEPORT - Greta Gail Melickian died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004, at FHN Memorial Hospital.
Although she made her home in Freeport almost exclusively since 1985, Greta was born Oct. 3, 1935, in Monroe, La. As a young girl, her family relocated to southern California where she completed her education. She was studying piano at UCLA under Guy Mayer when she met fellow student and future husband, Gary Melickian.
Greta was a child prodigy, mastering on the piano such works as the Bach Etudes, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Lecuona's Malaguena by the time she was 8 years old. She performed widely around the Los Angeles basin before her marriage.
The young Melickians moved to Colorado, where Gary completed his bachelor's degree, and they became parents of a son, Mark, and daughter, Lynn. The ill health which plagued Greta all of her adult life became apparent when the children were still toddlers. After the Mellickian's divorce, Greta lived in Missouri with her parents for a number of years before finally settling in Freeport.
Greta was a staunch Episcopalian and found much strength and support in Grace Church, its pastors and congregation. She elected the Grace Church Columbarium as her final resting place. A memorial service is planned for the spring, when far-flung family members will be able to come together to celebrate her life.
Greta was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Ruth Rasbury, and a sister, Ruth Cowie. Gary Melickian, with whom Greta had remained friends, died the week prior to her death.
She is survived by her son, Mark Melickian of Oak Park; daughter, Lynn Melickian of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; grandchildren, Ben and Grace Melickian; and sisters, Marietta Carrigan of San Antonio, Texas, and Pat Metcalf of Freeport.

Dolores A. Strong
FREEPORT - Dolores A. Strong, 79, of Freeport, formerly of Orangeville, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005, at FHN Memorial Hospital.
She was born Nov. 3, 1925, the daughter of Jesse and Myrtle (Strohecker) Newton. On July 22, 1947, Dolores and James R. Strong Sr. were married in Minneapolis, Minn. James died Feb. 1, 1992.
Mrs. Strong was a member of Orangeville Untied Methodist Church, Orangeville American Legion Auxiliary and Country Swingers Square Dancers Club.
She enjoyed sewing, bowling, traveling, crafts, making home improvements, and she especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Surviving are her son, James R. (Nancy) Strong of Monroe, Wis.; one daughter, Susan (Michael) Sciutto of Galena; one sister, Carol Zier of Pearl City; four grandchildren, Stephanie (Nathan) Calcari, Kimberly (Andrew) Miller, Sheldon Strong and Corey (Kristin Poschke) Sciutto; four great-grandchildren, Reagan and Brecken Calcari, Madelyn and Carson Miller; and her special friend, Bob Brandthaver.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one brother, Lewis Newton.
Services for Mrs. Strong will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Joseph Warner officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Saturday to time of service at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established for Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center.

Mark D. Urban
FREEPORT - Mark D. Urban, 40, of Freeport died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, at St. Mary Hospital in Madison, Wis.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home.
A memorial fund has been established.

Frank G. Calderon
FREEPORT - Frank Gomez Calderon, 80, of Freeport died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005, at FHN Memorial Hospital.
He was born May 12, 1924, in Mendota, the son of Seferino and Juanita Gomez Calderon. On Sept. 13, 1955, Frank and Sandra Stumbaugh were married in Quincey.
A veteran, Mr. Calderon served 17 years, during World War II and the Korean War, in the Navy, Air Force and U.S. Army.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Surviving family members include his wife, Sandra; sons, Mark (Tammy) Calderon of Freeport, Philip (vicki) Calderon of Durand, Thomas (Carmen) Calderon of Stockton, Donald Calderon of Perry, Iowa, Daniel (Vicky) Calderon of Woodward, Iowa, and Timothy (Sharon) Calderon of Littleton, Colo.: daughters, Lisa Calderon of Aurora, Colo., and Shannon Manske of Anchorage, Alaska; brothers, Alberto Calderon of Fox Lake and John Calderon of Pensacola, Fla.; sisters, Tory Dawson of Glendale, Ariz., Sister Mary Frances Calderon of Elgin and Juanita Boatwright of Freeport; grandchildren, Pam Calderon, Neil Calderon, Megan Calderon, Nicole David, Julie Martin, Cliffton Calderon, Michelle Calderon, Brian Jensen, Kevin Calderon, Zachary David, Tory Calderon, Tia Calderon, Shannon Delany, Niconie Manske, Natalie Manske, Jamilla Calderon, Tristan Calderon and Peyton Calderon; great-grandchildren, Devonante Calderon, Casey Williams, Hayden Calderon, Dylan Capp and Nikolas Furstenau; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Seferino and Juanita Calderon; brothers, Joseph Calderon, Felipe Calderon and Martin Calderon; sisters, Seferina (Pepe) Mahoney and Mary Calderon; granddaughter, Sandra Ann Calderon; and Mr. Calderon's special pal, Skippy.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Visitation hours are from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home where a Scripture service will be conducted at 6 p.m.
Memorial funds have been established for the Make A Wish Foundation and Freeport Salvation Army.